Aerator for minnow buckets



y 1951 E. VOLENEC ETAL AERATOR FOR MINNOW BUCKETS Filed June 21, 1946 5 a R I H mm- M mmm/W m Ho Mu R v. W

Patented July 17, i951 AERATOR FOR MINNOW BUCKETS Emil Volenec and Fred Charles Kohagen, Minne- Kohagen assignor to said apolis, Minn.; said Volenec Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,469

The present invention relates to aerating apparatus for water containers and is more particularly concerned with a device to be attached to minnow buckets.

The primary object'of the invention is to provide a device to supply oxygen to a water container without the use of electrical or mechanical pumps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which can be readily attached to a container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character to which can be operated by an ordinary bulbous bellows to oxygenate the water in a minnow bucket.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive oxygenating apparatus for attachment to water containers.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a minnow bucket constructed in accordance with the invention, the top being broken away partially to expose interior construction.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof on line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Like numerals, as used in the description and drawings, designate the same structural parts.

ID is a rectangular, box-like metal water container with an interiorly projecting bead I I on its rim to serve as a stop for the hereinafter described screen unit, and a hinged lid or cover l2 designed to be fastened down by means of a pivoted latch l3 which engages a keeper I l projecting from said rim and through the top. In proximity to the said fastener the top is provided with a plurality of round holes to drain off water, as desired, without removing the top.

Mounted perpendicularly on a base plate It, secured centrally on the bottom I! of the bucket, is a post consisting of a round rod l8 which extends short of the bucket lid and serves as a guide for a tubular sleeve l9.

Fastened to the bottom of said sleeve by means of upper and lower dies 20, is a concave, wire screen 2|, with an annular rim plate 22 fastened to its circular edge. The disks overlie and under lie axial bottom portions of the screen and are secured to sleeve I9 in any suitable manner.

4 Claims. (01. 43-57) Thus, the sleeve and screen are connected together for unitary vertical movement.

Projecting diametrically from said rim plate are two angular brackets 23 only one of which is shown. Such brackets 23 are formed with small screw holes in the free ends. The wire screen is of suitable diameter to pass down through'a circular opening in an horizontally disposed plate 24, rectangular in form and suitably dimensioned to freely fit the interior of the bucket. The two brackets 23 on the screen rest against plate 24 and are secured thereto by screws 25, to unify the plate and screen. The slidable sleeve [9 'is provided on top with a cross bar 25, serving as a handle to lift the unit. As aforesaid, the bead is engageable with the marginal edges of the plate 24 to limit upward movement of the unit. The screen and plate comprise means for elevating the minnows in the bucket to a point adjacent the upper edge thereof whereby a minnow may be selected for the purpose of bait in a well-known manner.

An angular air tube 21, of copper or other suitable non-corrosive material, is provided with an open end on its vertical portion and a communicating tubular ring 28, with perforations, on the extremity of the other portion, which is designed to lie on the bottom of the bucket. The tubular ring is passed over the post [8 and surrounds the base thereof. Plate 24 is provided with a plurality of apertures 29 for the escape of oxygen to the water above.

'When the bend in pipe 21 is a sufiicient distance from the center of the bucket, the vertical portion of the pipe is located in a corner with the open end in proximity to the top, as illustrated, and is thereby braced. To permit the passage of the pipe 2'! therethrough and facilitate the movement of the plate 24 into and out of the container i0, its corner adjacent the pipe 21, is cut away as at 24. To permit free bending of the hereinafter described hose coupling bead l l is also cut out at said corner.

A bulbous bellows 3!] is attached to the lid of the bucket, centrally, by means or a tubular plug 3| to seal the connection. This plug is exteriorly threaded on the outer end and projects below the under surface of the lid to receive an elbow pipe 32. A short length of hose coupling 33, provided interiorly with an helical spring 34, connects the end of pipe 27 to the end of the said elbow. The passage-Way through said plug provides the air outlet for the bellows and an air intake -35 is provided on the opposite end. A suitable intake valve, such as a ball-valve, is provided for the intake to contain the air which is sucked in when the bellows is inflated in forcing air into pipe 21 and through the air escape holes in ring 28 to oxygenate the water in the bucket. A number of compressions of the bellows, will accomplish this result, and the operation may be repeated when deemed necessary.

The bucket is provided with asuitably shaped bail 36 with a hand grasp 31, and a flange 38 depends from the front of the bucket lid and overlaps the side of the bucket, thus serving to reinforce the closure.

As different embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it will be understood that the matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative merely, and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

l. Aerator for a bucket having a hinged cover, said aerator comprising a compressible bulb hav" ing a valved intake and a tubular outlet on its lower endymeans securing said tubular outlet to'project downwardly through said cover, arigid pipe'connected to the said tubular outlet below said cover, said pipe having a portion projecting laterally along the underside of saidcover toward aside wall :of the bucket, asecond rigid pipe having a vertical-portion positioned along the bucket side wall and a horizontal portion projecting laterally inwardly along "the bottom of the bucket, a perforated spray ring on and communicating with the laterally inward end of said horizontal pipe portion and resting on the bucket bottom, and a flexible L-shaped pipe connected at its opposite ends to the laterally outward end of said first rigid pipe and to the upper end of the vertical portion of the second rigid pipe, said flexible L-shaped pipe serving to permit removal of the bucket cover and tilting thereof to provide free access to the interior of the bucket without rendering the aerator inoperative, said flex-ibleL shaped pipe having sufficient resilient strength to insure resumption of their positions in the bucket by said first and second pipes upon return of the cover to closed position in the event of any displacement thereof due to opening and tilting of said cover.

2. Aerator for a bucket having a hinged cover, said aerator comprising a compressible bulb having a valved air intake and a tubular outlet on its lower end, means securin said tubular outlet to project downwardly through said cover, a rigid pipe connected to the said tubular outlet below said cover, said pipe having a portion projecting laterally along the underside of said cover toward a side wall of the bucket, a second rigid pipe having a vertical portion positioned along the bucket side wall and a horizontal portion projecting laterally inwardly along the bottom of the bucket, a perforated spray ring on and communicating with the laterally inward end of said horizontal pipe portion and resting on the bucket bottom, and a flexible L-shaped pipe connected at its opposite ends to the laterally outward end of said first rigid pipe and to the upper end of the vertical portion of the second rigid pipe, said flexible L-shaped pipe serving to permit removal of the bucket cover and tilting thereof to provide free access to the interior of the bucket without rendering the aerator inoperative, said flexible L- shaped pipe having sufiicient resilient strength to insure resumption of their positions in the bucket by said first and second pipes upon return of the cover to closed position in the event of any displacement thereof due to opening and tilting of said cover, and means tending to retain said rigid pipes in normal position in the bucket comprising a plate shaped to freely conform to the side walls of the bucket, a corner of said plate being formed with a positioning opening passing the vertical portion of said second rigid pipe, said positioning "opening definin an edge to engagea side of said vertical pipe portion, and means spacing said plate above the bottom of the bucket whereby said positioning opening edge engages an intermediate portion of said vertical pipe portion above its lower end.

.3. Aerator for a bucket having a hinged cover, said aerator comprising a compressible bulb having a valved air intake and a tubular outlet on its lower end, means securing said tubular outlet to project downwardly through said cover, a rigid pipe connected to the said tubular outlet below said cover, said pipe having a portion projecting laterally along the underside of said-cover toward a side wall of the bucket, a second rigid pipe having .a vertical portion positioned'along the bucket side wall and a horizontal portion projecting laterally inwardly along the bottom of the bucket, a perforated spray ring on and communicating with the laterally inward end of said horizontal pipe portion and resting on the bucket bottom, and a flexible Leshaped pipe connected at its opposite 'ends to the laterally outward end 'of said first rigid pipe and to the upper end-of the vertipal portion 'of the second rigid pipe, said flexible L-shaped .pipe serving to .permit removal of the bucket cover and tilting thereof to provide free access to the interior of the bucket without rendering the aerator inoperative, said flexible L- shaped pipe having sufficient resilient strength to insure resumption of their positions in the bucket by said first and second pipes uponreturn of the cover to closed position in the event of any displacement thereof due to opening and tiltin of said cover, and means tending to retain said rigid pipes in normal position in the bucket comprising a plate shaped to freely conform to the side walls of the bucket, a corner 'of said plate being formed with a positioning opening passing the vertical portion of said second rigid pipe, said positioning opening defining an edge to engage a side of said vertical pipe portion, and means spacing said plate above the bottom of the bucket whereby said positioning opening edge engages an intermediate portion of said vertical pipe portion above its lowerend, and a vertical handle element rising from a portion on said plate whereby said plate can be elevated and depressed in the bucket while engaged with said vertical pipe portion and with the bucket cover in an open position.

4. Aerator for a bucket having a hinged cover, said aerator comprising a compressible bulb having a valved air intake and a tubular outlet on its lower end, means securing said tubular outlet to project downwardly through said cover, a rigid pipe connected to the said tubular outlet below said cover, said pipe having a portion projecting laterally along the underside of said cover toward a side wall of the bucket, a second rigid pipe having a vertical portion positioned along the bucket side wall and a horizontal portion projecting laterally inwardly'along the bottom of the bucket, a perforated spray ring on and communicating with the laterally inward end of said horizontal pipe portion and resting on the bucket bottom, and a flexible L shaped pipe connected at its opposite ends to the laterally outward end of said first rigid pipe and to the upper end of 5 the vertical portion of the second rigid pipe, said flexible L-shaped pipe serving to permit removal of the bucket cover and tilting thereof to provide free access to the interior of the bucket without rendering the aerator inoperative, said flexible L shaped pipe having sufiicient resilient strength to insure resumption of their positions in the bucket by said first and second pipes upon return of the cover to closed position in the event of any displacement thereof due to opening and tilting of said cover, and means tending to retain said rigid pipes in normal position in the bucket comprising a plate shaped to freely conform to the side walls of the bucket, a corner of said plate being formed with a positioning opening passing the vertical portion of said second rigid pipe, said positioning opening defining an edge to engage a side of said vertical pipe portion, and means spacing said plate above the bottom of the bucket whereby said positioning opening edge engages an intermediate portion of said vertical pipe portion above its lower end, and a vertical handle element rising from a portion of said plate whereby said plate can be elevated and depressed in the bucket while engaged with said vertical pipe portion and with the bucket cover in an open position, said portion on said plate comprising a recticulated part depressed below the level of said plate to engage the bucket bottom and support said plate above the bucket bottom.

EMIL VOLENEC.

FRED CHARLES KOHAGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 302,086 Barton July 15, 1884 913,379 Hart Feb. 23, 1909 1,745,012 Gilmore Jan. 28, 1930 2,107,666 I-Ieohman Feb. 8, 1938 2,197,974 Feinberg Apr. 23, 1940 2,294,136 Smith Aug. 25, 1942 2,303,757 Pierson Dec. 1, 19 2 2,408,306 Flournoy Sept. 24, 1946 

